PDA vs Notebook

[beethoven]

i have a question. how much can a PDA to replace a notebook (except games)

[AnswerDude]

It's reallly depended on what you want to use a notebook for. The main issues that you have to overcome are smaller screen and input method of the PDA.

[beethoven]

but i can add a keyboard at PDA

[beethoven]

a 640x480 screen at a PDA is not small at all. it can provide a huge cantity of information (on the screen) in one moment.

[yankeejeep]

I now travel almost exclusively with my Toshiba e805 with a VGA display and WM2003SE to which I have added:
Stowaway bluetooth keyboard and mouse (for extended input sessions)
SoftMaker's TextMaker (word processing) and PlanMaker (spreadsheet)
SprintDB Pro (database)
WestTek's ClearVue Office Suite, Font Manager and JetCET printing app (these let me print most documents to a number of standard printers direct from my PPC)
NetFront 3.2 with JVLite (browser)
Adobe Reader (with the VGA hack so that it displays nicely on the VGA screen)

I can now easily travel notebook free in almost all situations. I only take my notebook with me when I will need to work with a proprietary database program that has no PPC connect. The PPC has wifi for easy connection to client networks and I carry along a CF FastEthernet for client offices without an access point. I pack a CF modem card if I need to do dialup with a land line. For charging, I have picked up a ZipLinq sync/charge cable and the companion multi-purpose adapter that can be plugged into either a car socket or into a standard wall jack. Just in case, I take along a USB host cable so that I can access some peripherals through this device's USB host capability (mainly flash drives and external hard drives). I have used Pocket DVD Wizard to convert a few of my favorites into a format that I can carry on a memory card and watch on the TCPMP player (way better than WMP) and, for my more literary moments, keep several ebooks available. For games, I stick to those that are not too small on the small screen to enjoy: the PPC version of SimCity 2000, Mobile Crossword (it can read the PocketLite format used by the NY Times), cribbage, and Insenic's Warring Nations.

I have almost all the utility I used to carry a notebook to have available at less than a quarter of the weight and significantly less space. Most of my trips now I get along fine with one briefcase for work papers, books, and all my computing power. The one thing I have not found a real solution to is preparing PowerPoint-format presentations on the PPC itself. While there are several good presentation apps available, they all require conversion of PPT to their own format and, if there is no desktop at the other end equipped to convert back to PPT format, revising a presentation on the road can be an issue. Having one that can handle work in native PPT format would be the frosting on the cake. As it is, I can review a presentation with the ClearVue viewer but not do any edits or additions.

[beethoven]

yankeejeep you're right

[beethoven]

can i find C++ for PDA??? i need it for school, for programing.

[yankeejeep]

Wander over to PocketPC Magazine's web site (http://www.pocketpcmag.com) and search their software encyclopedia. Searching on the keyword C++ for the PocketPC platform returns a number of options for working with code on your device.

[d508dq]

What about additional storage? For most business trips, I wouldn't need more than a couple of gb. But for holidays, I've got all those photos which need to be copied off camera cards, and I should probably take a couple of films to keep the wife happy... am I back to taking my laptop? or is there an easy solution to the question of connecting a PDA to an external hard drive?

[Scharfshutze]

What about additional storage? For most business trips, I wouldn't need more than a couple of gb. But for holidays, I've got all those photos which need to be copied off camera cards, and I should probably take a couple of films to keep the wife happy... am I back to taking my laptop? or is there an easy solution to the question of connecting a PDA to an external hard drive?


If your pda has usb, theres plenty of storage possible. Or if it uses any form of memory cards. I've seen compact flash up to a gig or more. (although their not easy on the wallet.)

I recommend googling for pda storage. Thats what I did when I used my old apple eMate which I broke the screen when I dropped it off my bike. =P

[jack_si]

Did anybody try WiFi drive?
I fount this cute thing with "only" 60Gb drive at:
http://www.yakumo.com/produkte/index.php?pid=1&ag=Externe+Laufwerke

[dsimpson]

I want to buy either a PDA or laptop but don't know enough about either to make an intelligent decision. Please help. I would be using it for excel (writing lesson plans,) word (writing brief notes & letters,) email, searching the web, downloading pictures from internet. I would need to easily connect to a printer and I travel a lot by car and plane and want wireless access. What are your thoughts?

[AnswerDude]

All of the current models of Pocketpc/Windows Mobile devices will be able to do what you need. You may need additional hardwares and softwares to accomplish them, and how easy to do so is subjective and debatable. First thing to consider is how much you are willing to spend, that will narrow down the choices quite a bit. Also you may want to start a new thread in an appropriate general forum to get better responses.

[Scharfshutze]

I want to buy either a PDA or laptop but don't know enough about either to make an intelligent decision. Please help. I would be using it for excel (writing lesson plans,) word (writing brief notes & letters,) email, searching the web, downloading pictures from internet. I would need to easily connect to a printer and I travel a lot by car and plane and want wireless access. What are your thoughts?


Well, I guess it would depend on what you actually want to do with it.

Is it games and movies you want? OR General office productivity and music?

If its games and movies, stick with a laptop. If you want to use it for
serious work and listen to music, go with a HPC/PDA.

The laptop has of course serious power, but a HPC/PDA has a longer battery life.

I myself prefer a pda over a laptop since I dont watch movies when I'm on the go and trying to get work done.

But at home, I obviously choose a regular pc for the movies, office documents and the like.

[e_tellurian]

i have a question. how much can a PDA to replace a notebook (except games)

To some the idea of interaction vs. replacement is logical.

If your PDA offers the choice to enlarge the print upon the screen then either will offer good interaction.

If you are looking for future application such as we-com then the purpose is of value, and may help your choice.

E-T